(or, alternative title: the end of a nightmare......)

Hi. I would just like to communicate my experience with eczema.

Until last year I suffered from severe eczema and massive, generalised 'allergicness' affecting my face & upper torso, in response to not just dust and animals, but air conditioning, stress, red wine, spicy foods and even my husband!! My system was completely oversentitised which made it impossible to isolate the exact triggers. I had had enough of using moderately potent steroids on my skin, especially near my face & eyes. This came to breaking point in the latter part of my 20's when my job became v stressful & I was travelling a great deal for my work - and particularly in the run up to my wedding last year. I tried all sorts of therapists: GPs, dermatologists, chinese herbalists, homeopaths. You name it. All failed. In desperation I went to an acupuncturist (very lucky to have an excellent practitioner where I live in York - Hugh McPherson at the York Clinic), and even on my first session, I felt extraordinary relief & an intense release of the itchy 'heat' that was part & parcel of my condition. He tended to target the areas which were full of eczema (particuarlly inner arms..moomin I completely sympathise as have been there myself!!) and face (looking like something from hellraiser with up to 15 needles located on my face), but also general head releasing trigger points elsewhere on the body. Following an intense (& admittedly expensive) 10 month treatment period, I am now the proud owner of new 'happy' skin, and have nothing worse than mild/normal level of allergy, improved by the occasional trip back to my acupuncturist for my '10,000 mile service'. I am sure this would not work for everyone, but, despite the dramatic effect on my life this successful treatment has had, I still see nurses/GPs/helplines citing the same few alternative therapies put forward as treatment options
for eczema (herbal, homeopathy, etc), but it does not yet seem to be appreciated that acupuncture can also help. If you cannot pinpoint the allergen, as was my case, and you are looking into alternative forms of treatment, or are as desperate as I was, I would unreservedly recommend this, as the impact that this treatment has had on my life is truly immeasurable.

Perhaps this information can help even just one person be free of this traumatic condition as sadly there are so few success stories with skin conditions. However, there is hope out there, so good luck readers!

PS. happy to say that I got away with a very nice strapless wedding dress on the big day...!!